The International Archives Week at the AHBDN

In the week of June 5th to 11th, a new edition of the International Archives Week is celebrated. This year from the Museum and the Historical Archive of the City of Badalona (AHBDN) we want to commemorate this celebration with the publication on our website of the catalogs of the extensive collection of Josep M. Cuyàs i Tolosa.

Josep M. Cuyàs i Tolosa (Badalona 1904-1992) was a self-taught historian and archaeologist. Although this did not become his professional dedication – he worked for 50 years in the offices of the chemical company CROS, of which he became a representative – he never stopped working for the recovery of Badalona’s history .

As a young man he was already interested in archeology. At the age of 16 he published his first article on the subject of archeology in El Eco de Badalona and in 1925 he founded the Badalona Excursionista Association with a group of friends, among them another prominent Badalona historian and archaeologist Joaquim Font i Cussó. In 1933 the Group founded its own museum with the pieces from the excavations and with collections of pieces collected from individuals.

After the war, in 1945, Cuyàs began excavations in the Baetulo area, which he directed as Commissioner of Local Excavations in Badalona, appointed by the historian and archaeologist Josep Serra i Ràfols.

In 1955, precisely when the VIII Provincial Assembly of archaeological excavations was being held, Cuyàs and Tolosa had made the discovery of the baths of Baetulo, with an extraordinary state of conservation. That year, the foundation stone of the current Museum of Badalona (officially inaugurated in 1966) was laid, of which he became the first director.

Although its archaeological side was important, it also stood out for the laborious work of collecting data and documents about Badalona. In this field, one of the most outstanding studies he did was the compilation of data in the parish archive of Santa Maria, which ended a few days before the church burned down in 1936. After retiring as director of the Museum of Badalona, at the age of 65, dedicated himself to going through all the archives of Barcelona and also those of other localities.

This enormous task materialized in the entirety of its collection, which includes 179 boxes of archival collections, 273 titles from the local collection and 137 from the general newspaper library and 1,930 volumes from the library. 75 linear meters guarded by the Museum of Badalona since 1992 and which constitute a primary source for researchers of the history and heritage of Badalona.

Josep M. Cuyàs amb la seva esposa. Desconegut. Museu de Badalona. Arxiu Josep M. Cuyàs.